Fairfield RTM Restores $350K Town Contribution to Pequot Library

Fairfield's Representative Town Meeting voted Monday to restore the town's $350,000 contribution to Pequot Library before a standing room-only crowd of residents, many of them Pequot Library supporters.

The vote to restore the full contribution came in a 43-3 vote, with John Mitola, D-2, Ruth Smey, D-5, and Eric Newman, D-7 opposing.

"We get to be a three-library town because of Pequot Library at a substantial savings," David Becker, R-1, said in support of the Southport library, which raises 70 percent of its operating budget.

He and his fellow RTM Republicans previously announced the caucus' unanimous support for restoring the contribution.

Some RTM Democrats voiced their support, but spoke in light of a process that has yet to run its course.

"Pequot should be made whole until a decision is made on how all the nonprofits in Fairfield should be funded," Ann Stamler, D-5, said, referring to the nonprofit committee set up by the boards of Finance and Selectmen.

"It's a difficult, difficult, difficult decision," Marc Patten, D-7, said.

"The way it was cut was wrong from a process standpoint," Patten said, but cautioned the RTM not to fund the library at the expense of another town service.

Monday's discussion and vote came several weeks after the Board of Finance eliminated the $350,000 contribution to the Pequot Library in a 5-4 vote.

"This is what making the tough choices looks like," Finance Board Vice Chairman Rob Bellitto, who moved to cut the contribution at the April 2 Board of Finance meeting, said before the RTM on Monday.

"At a time when programs will likely be cut at our schools, roads will not be paved, when we cannot afford to implement a police program to improve the safety and security at our schools...can we look our constituents in the eye and tell them that this is the best use of our tax dollars?" Bellitto continued.

Since that late night finance board vote, both members of the public and elected officials -- including First Selectman Michael Tetreau, who filed an appeal to restore the funds -- have voiced their support for restoring the full $350,000 to the Fiscal Year 2014 budget.

"We need more private-public partnerships today, not fewer," Selectman Kevin Kiley said. "Partners like Pequot and other not-for-profits that provide necessary services to towns are more valuable today than ever."

"Fairfield is a better place to live because of Pequot Library," he added.

Before the RTM's vote, Executive Director Martha Gates Lord explained that any cuts in town funding would create a "self-reinforcing downward spiral."

If programs and hours are cut, you can't assume patrons will pay more for less, Lord said. Thus, she projected, donations would decline.

And that $2.6 million endowment some of the public have asked about?

"It would be exhausted within three years," Lord explained.

She asked that the RTM restore the full $350,000 contribution and allow the Pequot Library staff -- as well as Town Librarian Karen Ronald and library trustee Kristen Tierney -- to have time to develop a "sustainable" plan that would benefit all residents.

At this point, the Pequot Library will have at least another year to create such a plan without the pressure of an impending budget reduction.

The RTM is slated to vote on the complete Fiscal Year 2014 budget on Monday, May 6.